THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030645
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Maybe it was just coincidence. Maybe not. Norv Turner's roadmap for improving the Washington Redskins led him to accept the invitation to appear at the Norfolk Sports Club's 50th Jamboree celebration Thursday night.
In addition to serving as an awards presenter, Turner got a chance to talk to keynote speaker Steve Spurrier. He is the University of Florida football coach whose stable is well-stocked with NFL prospects, including some good enough to go early in the first round.
Perhaps Spurrier told him something about one of his Gators that will make the difference in whether or not the Redskins draft him with the fourth pick of the first round? We'll know in April.
For the moment, Turner's functions are more mundane, but every bit as critical as stockpiling college talent. The signing period for NFL free agents begins Feb. 15 - and it is imperative that the Redskins gain some immediate help from that area if they are to put last season's 3-13 record behind them.
There is talk the Redskins are greatly interested in Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tony Tolbert, who turned down a multiyear, $6 million offer from the Cowboys in order to seek his value on the open market.
Two weeks ago, there were stories that Cowboys free-agent receiver Alvin Harper was spotted house-hunting in Northern Virginia. He and Turner had a relationship when Turner was offensive coordinator of the Cowboys.
``If he was, he didn't stop by my place,'' Turner said. ``I have a feeling those rumors are going to fly all spring, as they did a year ago. Right now, what teams are working on hard is signing their own players.''
The day after his season ended with a victory over the L.A. Rams, Turner said that if the Redskins were to improve radically, much of it would have to come from within - and from players whose names are familiar to most fans.
They are players such as defensive lineman Marc Boutte, claimed off waivers from the Rams early last season. He did enough positive things late in the year that Turner is keeping a keen watch.
``He's like some other guys we have; we say they've flashed,'' Turner said. ``I'm looking for him to have a great offseason. He's the kind of guy who can benefit from a great weight-training program, which we have. Then, instead of flashing, I'm looking for him to raise his level of consistency.''
And they are players like tight end Coleman Bell, claimed from the Cowboys' practice squad late in the year. Turner describes him as a good pass-receiver and expendable in Dallas because the Cowboys were loaded at his position. He'll get a shot to show he can fill one of Washington's biggest gaps.
The most important cog to a Redskins's resurgence, of course, is quarterback Heath Shuler. Washington's No. 1 draft pick last spring, Shuler has been vacationing in Tennessee but will return to Redskin Park soon to begin an important offseason in his development. Contrary to what Shuler hinted, that he expected Turner to make major changes in his style, Turner hopes just to fine-tune.
``He's been throwing the football his whole life,'' Turner said. ``At this stage, there's nothing major I want to change. What I want is to get him more reps, to make him feel more comfortable.''
Turner spoke frequently during his first season that the Redskins needed to show more of ``a sense of urgency.''
``It's something that happens over a period of time,'' he said. ``Talking doesn't get it done. You practice and practice each day, and you hope it develops over a period of time.
``I think when our players look at last season, and how close they came to playing winning football - even in those games that ended up 10-and 14-point games - that'll help develop that sense of urgency. Because we were close.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Miami QB Bernie Kosar, left, Redskins coach Norv Turner and Florida
coach Steve Spurrier chat.
by CNB